Global Matcha 'Obsession' Drinks Japan Tea Farms Dry

Bright green matcha tea has become a 'cultural touchpoint', one tea shop owner told AFP (Credit: AFP)

At a minimalist Los Angeles matcha bar, powdered Japanese tea is prepared with precision, despite a global shortage driven by the bright green drink's social media stardom.

Of the 25 types of matcha on the menu at Kettl Tea, which opened on Hollywood Boulevard this year, all but four were out of stock, the shop's founder Zach Mangan told AFP.